U.S. patent number 6,827,463 [Application Number 10/264,959] was granted by the patent office on 2004-12-07 for rear lighting with reflective shelf surfaces for supermarket display case.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Carrier Commercial Refrigeration, Inc.. Invention is credited to Sue-Li "Kingsley" Chuang, Eugene Duane Daddis, Jr..
United States Patent |
6,827,463 |
Chuang , et al. |
December 7, 2004 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Rear lighting with reflective shelf surfaces for supermarket
display case
Abstract
Refrigeration system has a display case defining a display
space. The display space has a top area, a bottom area, a front
viewing area, and a back area. A cooling element provides cool air
to display space. An air outlet directs a cool air curtain to an
air inlet, across the front viewing area. A light source is located
near the back area away from the air curtain. A reflector is spaced
from the light source and reflects light through the display
space.
Inventors: |
Chuang; Sue-Li "Kingsley"
(Glastonbury, CT), Daddis, Jr.; Eugene Duane (Manlius,
NY) |
Assignee: |
Carrier Commercial Refrigeration,
Inc. (Syracuse, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
32042370 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/264,959 |
Filed: |
October 2, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/92;
362/125 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F
3/0447 (20130101); F25D 27/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47F
3/04 (20060101); F25D 27/00 (20060101); F25D
027/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;362/94,92,125,126,133,294,328 ;62/246 ;312/408 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Cariaso; Alan
Assistant Examiner: Tsidulko; Mark
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Carlson, Gaskey & Olds
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A refrigeration system comprising: a display case defining a
display space having a top area, a bottom area, a front viewing
area, and a back area; a cooling element in communication with said
display space; at least one air outlet in communication with said
cooling element, said at least one air outlet for guiding an air
curtain across said front viewing area; and a reflector spaced from
a light source and located proximate said front area, with said
light source spaced toward said back area from said reflector, said
reflector for reflecting light through said display space.
2. The refrigeration system of claim 1 including a shelf within
said display space wherein said reflector is mounted to said
shelf.
3. The refrigeration system of claim 2 including an air mover
directing air from said cooling element to said air outlet.
4. The refrigeration system of claim 3 wherein said air mover
comprises a fan.
5. The refrigeration system of claim 1 including an air inlet in
communication with said air outlet, said air inlet for receiving
said air curtain.
6. The refrigeration system of claim 1 wherein said reflector
comprises a mirror.
7. The refrigeration system of claim 1 wherein said reflector
comprises a reflective tape.
8. The refrigeration system of claim 1 wherein said light source is
located proximate said back area.
9. A method of refrigeration comprising: providing a display space
having a front viewing area and a back area; cooling air for the
display space; directing the cool air across the front viewing
area; locating a light source away from the front viewing area
spaced toward the back area; spacing a reflector from the light
source; directing light from the light source to the reflector; and
reflecting light into the display space from the reflector.
10. A refrigeration system comprising: a display case defining a
display space having a front viewing area and a back area; a
cooling element in communication with said display space; at least
one air outlet in communication with said cooling element, said at
least one air outlet for guiding an air curtain across said front
viewing area; a first shelf within said display space wherein a
reflector is mount on said first shelf; and a light source for
emitting light from said back area to said reflector long said
first shelf.
11. The refrigeration system of claim 10 including a second shelf
spaced below said first shelf wherein said reflector is angled to
reflect light on said second shelf.
12. The refrigeration system of claim 11 wherein said light source
is located above an anticipated height of a product on said second
shelf.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a refrigerated display case.
Refrigerated display cases frequently have an open viewing area
that permits consumers to reach into the display case to retrieve
product, such as milk, eggs and other perishable items from a
display space. The display case may have a cool air outlet at the
top that directs air across the viewing area to an air inlet, a
warm air return, at the bottom of the case, thereby creating an air
curtain that insulates the interior of the display case from warm
ambient air outside.
Typically, these display cases have shelves within the display
space to support the refrigerated product. At the front of the
shelf hangs a light to illuminate product within the case.
Unfortunately, this light generates heat, warming air and product
in the vicinity of the light. As a consequence, this light alters
temperature distribution within the display space and causes the
product temperature near the front of the display space to be
high.
A need therefore exists for a display case that avoids the uneven
temperature distribution caused by the location of the light near
the air curtain.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention locates display lighting away from the air
curtain. In so doing, this source of heat is prevented from having
a significant effect on the temperature of the product in the front
of the display. Preferably, the light is placed near the back of
the display space and away from the air curtain located at the
front. To maintain light distribution across the display space, a
reflector, such as a mirror, may be used to reflect light on the
product. In this way, the effect of the light's heat on the air
curtain is limited, promoting efficient operation of the
refrigeration system, without sacrificing the quality of lighting
for the display case.
The reflector may be mounted to a shelf to permit light to shine
down on product below the shelf with the reflector. The shelf may
have a mirror or other reflective surface to provide this
illumination. Light accordingly continues to be distributed
throughout the display space.
The refrigeration system may also have an air mover, such as a fan,
that directs air through the display case. Driven by the air mover,
air may pass through a cooling element, such as a refrigeration
coil, to an air outlet that distributes air across the front of the
display case in the form of an air curtain. The air curtain may
then be received by an air inlet, a warm air return, which feeds
the air back to a cooling element so that the air may be cooled
down once more.
Accordingly, a display space may have a front viewing area and a
back area. Air is cooled for the display space and directed across
the viewing area. A light source is located away from the front
area and near the back area. A reflector is spaced from the light
source to reflect light across the display space.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The various features and advantages of this invention will become
apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed
description of the currently preferred embodiment. The drawings
that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as
follows:
FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a prior art refrigeration
system.
FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the display case of FIG.
1.
FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the inventive refrigeration
system, highlighting the location of light source and
reflector.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of known refrigeration system 8.
Display case 14 has cooling element 16, such as refrigeration
coils, that provides display space 18 within display case 14 with
cool air. Display space 18 comprises top area 22 spaced from bottom
area 26 and front viewing area 30 spaced from back area 34. Cool
air is supplied to display space 18 by air outlet 42, which
distributes air uniformally across front viewing area 30 to form
air curtain 46. Air curtain 46 is received by air inlet 44. Air is
drawn into air inlet 44 by air mover 64, here a panel of fans, that
then directs air over cooling element 16 through air outlet 42.
FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of refrigeration system 8,
showing the location of air outlet 42 and air inlet 44 on display
case 14. This figure also shows product 70 on shelves 60. These
features of refrigeration system 8 are well known.
FIG. 1 shows light sources 23 near front viewing area 30 and air
curtain 46. Due to the proximity of light sources 23 near air
curtain 46, heat from light sources 23 warms air near air curtain
46, altering temperature distribution with display space 18. Air
curtain 46 consequently works harder to keep display space 18
cool.
As shown in FIG. 3, in contrast to existing refrigeration systems,
refrigeration system 10 locates light source 50, such as light
bulbs, proximate to back area 34 of display space 18. By moving the
location of light source 50 away from air curtain 46, heat from
light source 50 is prevented from significantly affecting the
temperature of front viewing area 30 near air curtain 46. As a
consequence, front viewing area 30 is kept cooler, permitting
display case 14 to work more efficiently.
To enhance lighting at front viewing area 30, near the front of
shelves 60, reflectors 54 are mounted to shelves 60. Reflectors 54
may comprise mirrors, reflective tape or other reflective surfaces.
Reflectors 54 permit reflection of light from light source 50
shined along arrow A, from back area 34, to be redirected along
arrow B, toward bottom area 26 and back area 34, and toward product
70 on the shelf beneath reflector 54. In this manner, light may be
distributed through display space 18 without moving light source 50
closer to air curtain 46. As shown further in FIG. 3, light source
50 is located above anticipated height H of product 70 above shelf
61. While this particular embodiment shows reflector 54 placed at
front of shelf 60, one of ordinary skill in the art can envision
the placement of reflective surfaces at other locations within
display space 18 to promote good lighting of display space 18 while
avoiding the location of light source 50 near air curtain 46.
The aforementioned description is exemplary rather that limiting.
Many modifications and variations of the present invention are
possible in light of the above teachings. The preferred embodiments
of this invention have been disclosed. However, one of ordinary
skill in the art would recognize that certain modifications would
come within the scope of this invention. Hence, within the scope of
the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than
as specifically described. For this reason the following claims
should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this
invention.
* * * * *